WONDER WOMAN & THE INVISIBLE AIRPLANE
BIBLICAL STUDY: MARY & JOSEPH
TOPIC: SEX & OTHER STUFF
INTRO: Our final chapter in the superhero series deals with a hero we haven’t seen much of since the 70’s. And in the 1970’s, this superhero had superhuman strength and had the ability to fly around the world in her invisible airplane.
TRANSITION: Today, we will continue our “Sex & Other Stuff” issue by discussing purity—the purity of a superhero named Mary. And whenever Mary felt that she could not go on, she turned to her invisible powers—the Love of God and in His hand of protection.
1. MARY:
BIBLE VERSE: Luke 1:39-56 (it may not be necessary to read the whole verse, but explain “Mary’s Song”
1:39 In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah, 1:40 and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 1:42 She exclaimed with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb! 1:43 And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me? 1:44 For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 1:45 And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
1:46 And Mary said,
“My soul exalts the Lord,
1:47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior,
1:48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.
For from now on all generations will call me blessed,
1:49 because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;
1:50 from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.
1:51 He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.
1:52 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position;
1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.
1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,
1:55 as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
1:56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.
BIBLE LESSON SIDENOTES:
Leaped in her womb: What was John the Baptist’s primary mission in the world: to preach the message of Christ. Can a person witness by being excited? YES. Therefore, this leap was John’s first testimony about Christ! And who was he witnessing to? His own mother!
And Mary said: The message is poetic, or in the style of a hymn or song—it would have rhymed in the original text. It has an unusual use of theological terms, not something typically spoken by a commoner, unless of course she really understood what was happening (and that so, the joy would be unbelievable).
In other words…this is a Psalm…just in the New Testament!
From the sheer arrogance: In Greek context, could be translated “in the imaginations of their of heart.” Which halfway applies that arrogance tends to follow someone who lives in an imaginary world—a fantasy world.
OXYMORONS: In school, I learned about something that I have forever found amazing… the oxymoron. The oxy moron is the connection of two opposite words placed together that somehow form a meaning (two contradictory terms side by side).
Words such as:
Clearly Confused Jumbo Shrimp Military Intelligence Unbiased Opinion
Plastic Glasses 90 Years Young Friendly Fire Working Vacation
Hell’s Angels Freezer Burn Microsoft Works Pretty Ugly
And now a new one…Pregnant Virgin (kind of defeats the purpose…unless of course it’s God)
Who happens to be:
Beginning and the End Lion and the Lamb Son of God and Son of Man
get the picture?
MARY DID YOU KNOW? FROM MARK LOWREY (Song)
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to the blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And, when you kissed your little baby you’ve kissed the face of God?
Oh, Mary, did you know? Mary, did you know?
2. THE DIVORCE:
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 1:18-23
1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 1:19 Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately. 1:20 When he had contemplated this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 1:21 She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 1:22 This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: 1:23 “Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,” which means 21 “God with us.”
THE THREE STAGES OF MARRIAGE:
A. The Set-Up from the Families: One family member tells another family that I think your son is a good match for my daughter, they agree. Then the families get together and figure out the details (remember, Abraham sent a servant away to find a wife for Isaac).
B. The Betrothal: Both spouses signed a legal agreement, then were considered husband and wife. They were not intimate, but essentially took this time to get to know each other. It usually lasted about a year.
Purity during the Betrothal is expected! Just like purity is demanded for us today. If someone is pushing you into lust, into sex, than they are not suitable to be your spouse.
Paul Harvey radio announcing tells a story about a stewardess being hit on by a guy on the plane, demanding that she follow him back to his hotel room. Then, in the back of the plane, another guy also made same demands. So finally, the woman gave him and took the room key. But then she went to the back of the plane and gave it to the other guy and said “don’t be late.”
C. The marriage: Which of course is step three.
STATS ON DECAYING MORALS: In the modern world, divorces happen all the time, and now is the time that I could throw out some divorce details to you and stun you. The only problem is that you probably already know them better than me, besides, I already gave you some stats a few weeks ago.
So, I want to give you some different kinds of stats. These stats will show you some interesting details you will need to know when deciding who to date.
What percent of American people believe the following items are morally acceptable?
Topic % of America % of Christians
Co-Habiting (Living with Someone/not married) 60% 12%
Having an Abortion 45% 4%
Sex without being Married 42% 7%
Using Profanity 36% 7%
Gambling 61% 27%
Getting Drunk 35% 8%
Here’s the point: the way YOU think, the way I think…it is MUCH different than the way a non-believer thinks. And don’t think that a non-believer will just snap and become God-fearing people because they want to date you. Dating someone who is not a believer is going to cause great damage.
3. JOSEPH
THE ISSUE BEFORE JOSEPH: You’re 13-15 year old fiancée comes to you to tell you that she is pregnant (you haven’t laid one finger on her). Then, she says she didn’t do anything with anybody (this phrase in scripture is sometimes used as the word “know”). Finally, your fiancée says an angel came and visited and told you that you’re pregnancy is from God. What is your response?
THE PUNISHMENT FOR ADULTERY: The adulterer is to be taken to the city gate and stoned to death. Or, a divorce could be granted, which is of course the humane method that Joseph was choosing, probably out of love for Mary. Now, let me ask you a question. If Joseph had gotten the divorce, could he have married again? (this should bring up a discussion)
What would you prefer, a restored reputation or being questioned about being the one divorced guy in your city for the next 50 years (some people might even have accused him of impregnating Mary and then dumping her)? Think about it, Joseph could have moved up the wedding, had the baby away in Bethlehem during the census, come home, and there would not have been one false accusation and he could have explained away the whole mess (at least a mess in the world’s point of view).
SOMETHING ABOUT JOSEPH: HE DOESN’T SPEAK. Did you know, that nowhere in the Bible, nowhere, does Joseph ever have anything recorded in scripture. We can hear him asking the innkeeper for a room. We can hear him conversing with the shepherds when they’re saying cute baby, congratulations. But there is nothing in scripture recording what he says. He’s truly a man who doesn’t speak but whose life speaks volumes.
4. THE END:
ODD DEATHS: Throughout history, there has some been some people who have died in unusual ways:
A. Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, was killed when his heart was impaled by a short-tail stingray barb while filming a documentary.
B. Jennifer Strange from California: Died of water intoxication when a radio station was running a game called “hold your wee for a Wii.” She drank too much water and perished.
C. Aeschylus: Died after an eagle dropped a live tortoise on his bald head thinking his head was a stone. The tortoise lived.
Death, regardless of how it takes place, is a drastic matter. And the most drastic death in all of human history is the capitol murder of Jesus Christ, an innocent man. And Mary is there to view it.
BIBLE VERSE: John 19:25-27
19:25 Now standing beside Jesus’ cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 19:26 So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman look, here is your son!” 19:27 He then said to his disciple, “Look, here is your mother!” From that very time the disciple took her into his own home.
BIBLE LESSON SIDENOTES (optional): There were four woman standing there at the cross (notice, other than John, no disciple is mentioned and we know what Peter did). Mother Mary, Mother’s Sister, Mary the Wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene (some people argue 3 women and put “mother’s sister Mary the wife of Clopas,” but that makes no sense because that would mean Mary’s sister is all named Mary, not happening). These 4 women are in direct contrast to the 4 soldiers at the foot of the cross.
AT THE CROSS: Mary has nothing left. Joseph her husband was alive when Jesus was 12 when He stayed behind at the synagogue, but no mention is made of him later. If Joseph was a live, Mary would not needed anyone to take care of her—but she did.
And out of her nothingness…dead husband, dying son, the peak of her despair, Jesus took care of her! And Jesus will take care of you too.
Sources:
Leroe, Roberts. Joseph—Father of Jesus. Cliftondale Congregational Church, Massachusetts: June 2002.
Newland, Melvin. Through the Eyes…of Joseph. Christian Church, Oklahoma: December, 1997.
Morality Continues to Decay. Barna.org. November 3, 2003.
NAME: __________________
WONDER WOMAN & HER AIRPLANE
TOPIC SERIES: _________________________
INTRO:
1. _____________________________________
BIBLE VERSE: Luke 1:39-56
Leaped in Her Womb: _______________________________________________________
And Mary Said: ____________________________________________________________
From the Sheer Arrogance: __________________________________________________
Oxymorons: ____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
2. ______________________________________
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 1:18-23
THREE STAGES OF HEBREW MATRIMONY:
A. _____________________________________
B. _____________________________________
C. _____________________________________
DECAYING MORALS STATS:
What percent of people find the following items morally acceptable?
Issue America Christian
Living Together Before Marriage ____________ % ____________ %
Abortion ____________ % ____________ %
Sex Before Marriage ____________ % ____________ %
Using Profanity ____________ % ____________ %
Gambling ____________ % ____________ %
Getting Drunk ____________ % ____________ %
3. ______________________________________
The Punishment for Adultery:
A. _________________________________________________
B. _________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________
Odd Deaths:
BIBLE VERSE: John 19:25-27
At the Cross: